Joseph's Righteousness

I have always found the righteousness of Joseph a little confusing. And, of course, I'm sure it depends on his faith in God. I will study deeper...

"Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." Matt 1.19

I never got this--would it not still be a public disgrace to be pregnant before the wedding ceremonies were complete? To then be divorced?

Marriages came in two parts. The couple became betrothed, which meant legally married. The man then went to prepare a home for them. At that time, he came and gathered his wife to him, and they consummated the marriage. 

Joseph knew that the child was not his, yet did not declare before the courts that it was not his. By the legal understanding, a child formed between the betrothal and the "consummation" stage was not illegitimate. Mary's child would be known as Joseph's, since he was not saying it was not. 

Joseph would have his reputation tarnished by behaving this way--divorcing his wife for no cause would taint him, but would not harm Mary. Joseph would have to give back all of the bridal fortunes given by Mary's father. Finally, Joseph would have to pay a 50 shekel fine for backing out of the marriage. If Joseph had claimed her "adulteress", he could have kept everything that had been brought into the marriage with Mary.

He, it seems, was doing everything in his power to protect his wife, even while considering divorce. He would be the one looked down upon, apparently, more than Mary. 


Jewish Wedding Customs.Click here to read over all of this in detail